Bono & Edge Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela at 90 concert!

[Jamila]

Originally Posted by Bono Mot Lashings of apologies Mr. Mandela. (And I thought that was a link to the new album, too, oops. Mots = X 2!)

Don't worry about Mandela's birthdate, Mot, because it was easy to assume that today was his b-day with the concert being held today.

[bazza]

really amazing - his voice is very clear and can sign to a high note easily.

[JCOSTER]

I'll have to listen tomorrow on my hubbys lap top, but boy, what is Bono doing lately to look so damn good.

[BonoFox1]

Originally Posted by silvrlvr I watched it as it aired, too (the 46664 live stream left a little to be desired.) I thought it was very cute. I would like to know where they taped this. It looks like somebody's guest room.

Bono's guest room maybe?

[hcbiggs2002]

Originally Posted by light YouTube - Bono y The Edge felicitan a Mandela // U2MIRACLE.COM more complete videoupload

Thanks for findling this more complete version of the video! Bono sounds absolutely fabulous doesn't he! Roll on October!!

I liked how they changed the lyrics of the song to fit the occation!

And thanks for all the lovely screen caps!

[Babydoll]

Wonderful! I loved that, so cute. Bono's voice sounds goooood... not to mention that he looks

Thanks lady C!

[Ava79]

Bono's voice really sounds so good And what a great performance!

[Bona Vox]

Originally Posted by Jamila A few things: I don't know why the concert was held tonight but Madiba's b-day is not until 18 July. He's still a spry 89 years old.

There was a concert exactly 20 years ago, where musicians called for Mandela's release from prison. It was called "The Mandela Freedom At 70 Campaign". I think that's why it was yesterday and not on his actual birthday...
I really loved Bono's and Edge's birthday song. Bono had such a strong voice!

[MadDaisy]

Wow, Bono's voice
Awesome clip!

[Jamila]

Originally Posted by Bona Vox There was a concert exactly 20 years ago, where musicians called for Mandela's release from prison. It was called "The Mandela Freedom At 70 Campaign". I think that's why it was yesterday and not on his actual birthday... I really loved Bono's and Edge's birthday song. Bono had such a strong voice!

That's what I thought Bona Vox but I wasn't sure about the concert's actual date. I actually remember that concert and the song "Nelson Mandela" but I didn't know the exact date of the concert.

Actually musicians were calling for the release from prison of Madiba before the concert twenty years ago but it does make sense to combine the two s (Mandela's 90th birthday & the concert's anniversary) into one event.



Outside of what one could find on the Internet about the concert, there was virtually no mention of it in the U.S. media.


Here is the link to the infamous song which did help to lead to Nelson Mandela's freedom and one of my favorite performances of the song from back in the days of apartheid:

YouTube - Freedom Beat 1988 -Junior + Freedom Beat All Stars - Free Nelson Mandela.divx

[u2trinity]

Originally Posted by bonocomet

wow , I can't get over how much Bono looks as he did in the Popmart era .

the year's have been good to our boy .

[Lobe]

Thanks for the caps Comet!!

The performance was so great... Bono's voice is really great... and Edge looks so good with that t-shirt... very summer look

[Jeannieco]

Ya, totally agree. They sound AWESOME! Bono's voice Bono's being...

[pride346]

I was at the Hyde Park concert on Friday night & it was a great moment when the video was played-very emotional.
Nelson Mandela visited London last August to unveil a statue of himself in Parliament Square & he announced then that he hoped to return in 2008 for a 46664 concert to celebrate his 90th birthday.The timing of it is probably logistical / costs.As it is a charity event, it will have saved them some of the costs to have it this weekend when the same stage set up etc is also being used for 2 other major concerts-Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow & John Mayer gig on Saturday night & The Police , KT Tunstall & Starsailor on Sunday night.Nelson Mandela has been in UK since last Monday for other events climaxing with the concert on Friday night.Now he can spend his actual birthday-18th July- back home in South Africa with his family & friends.
I had been hoping for Bono & Edge to appear in person at the concert, but in the end wasn't too disappointed as I felt the video worked really well-a polished performance.With it being pre-recorded there was no chance of any potentially embarassing mistakes being made.It would have been a difficult song to sing live & with the show being watched globally by millions on tv, internet etc this was probably in their thinking.

[rihannsu]

Originally Posted by silvrlvr I watched it as it aired, too (the 46664 live stream left a little to be desired.) I thought it was very cute. I would like to know where they taped this. It looks like somebody's guest room.

According to U2.com it was filmed in Dublin, I assume at the studio because they said they couldn't come because they were working on the album. The following link is a full clip that included Bono's request that Mandela's birthday should be an international holiday hence the updating of Stevie Wonder's song promoting an MLK holiday.

Happy Birthday Mandela

Dana